Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-14
4 London MOh.

a London Mob.
AZ c4ogmous crowd, estimated TO number
$4,000 persons, gathered IN the vicinity of
Trafalgar Square, London, yesterday, des.
pite tbs warning OF Sir Charles Warsen,
commissioner Of police, that no meeting in
the square would be permitted. Most of
those who came intended 10 take part in
the anti.coercion meeting called BY tie radi-
ca clubs and leaders, but large number of
socialists and turbulent spirits of all kind
were also drawn to the spot. The crowd
jammed all the approaches TO the square,
and finally pressed so hard against the quad
| ruple Gordon of police who surrounded the
open space and became so threatening and
demonstrative that orders were given the
police to drive them back. These orders
were carried out with great severity. The
police were ,nerciiess, apparently believing
! that if they die not succeed in dispensing
| the crowd they would themselves be routed
ana treated. without mercy. The hardest
| fighting was in Northumberland avenue,
but there was a general encounter in ell the
streets debouching upon the square Hun
dfeds cf persons, including numbers Of
women, were injured more Oh less severely.
/! They were conveyed 10 hospitals as soon as
possible. at 4 O'clock Sir Charles Warren
gave up the attempt to control the crowd,
with The police force 81 his disposal, and
called upon the military authorities for assist.
auce 4 detachment of mounted and foot Life
Guards quickly responded, having been held
in readiness for such an emergency. Their
appearance, together with that OF large re-
/ inforcemeats OF police, resulted IL the crowd
beiYg oVerawsG aa,: the streets were soOn
cleared. Nest Of the people seemed ny
commoa consent 10 ta6e un thsir march for
! HYDE Pa.k. 4 magistrate who had c0Iae
with tho military - reGU tbs riot act re-
nained on ihe around, but had no occasion
70 read nc Gc,. st O'Clock the military
auG pci!ca were still in position, holding the
square s stroug force mad also been sent
TO HYDE Park The passage TO ;lnd fro of
vehicles in the vicinity did moi cease during
t5e whole day, and this increased the wori.
Of the police. Had the square been entirely
closed there would have been no difficulty
whatever, but the continual traffic enabled
the crowds 10 form here ana there without
ceaairg at 4:15 O'Clock ioud cheers herald
ed the arrival cf cavalry force, with Col.
Talbot st It's head, from Whitehall, and
Magistrate Marsbam prepared 20 read the
riot act, in case such warming should become
necessary. But The crowd became good
humored. il m0rSed contrast with their de-.
meanor CO the arrival OF the mounted po-
lice. While the guards irotted eight abreast
around the square cheers won't up, accom-
panied by shouts Of Bravo, Marsham. We
want free speech We ore all trce English
men, Irisnmen Gnd Scotchmen; we only
want our legal rights as citizens Of London" "
Z second circuit of the square by the guards
eiciied opposition from mob Of roughs in
the crowd who shouted, "Britons shall not be
rulod by lead and bsyonets." Three groans
wcregiven for the home secretary. heguards
patrUlsd the square saveral times, and then
turned into the adjacent streets. They sue
cseGed 10 awing TIE roughs and in greatly
tbilniug out the crowd. At 5 O'Clock tho
greaaders wheeled into the square, with
bRyouets fixed aud with twenty rounds OF
hal cartridges in their pouches. they
were accompanied by az ambulance. They
halted in front OF the National Gallery, and
opeue6 into lines. The mob was thus caught
between the lines of police aud military, end
the roughs were compelled 20 run the
gauntlet. They were hastened on their
way by & Shove from one policeman, cuff
from another, and kick from 8 third.
Some OF them showed disposition to main
tain their ground, but the soldiers brought
their bavonets 10 the charge" position, and
the sight OF the cold steel quickly caused
them to retreat The officers of the grena-
diers rushed 10 the front and ordered their
Taen 10 replace their. arms, and the soldiers
then contented themselves with pounding
with their rifles on the toes of the crowd.
Boxing the ears of the turbulent roughs
with vigor seemed to delight the policemen.
The crowd now hooted the military with an
energy equal to that which they cheered
them before. Soon after o'clock the po-
lice made a series of violent charges with
their Datons in g determined effort to
clear the whole vicinity, many points OF
which had bsen crowded al the afternoon.
: During one charge the Thoe window of an
electrical shop fell with q crash. The
crowd asserted that the window was broken
by the hoofs of some of the polcemen's n's
j, horses. The police, however, assert that
, bricks were thrown at the window. The
loafers made for the coutents ofthe window,
but the police captured many articles and
: arrested the thieves. a minute later the
! window Of q refreshment room was smashed
in by the pressure OF the crowd. There
were one or two similar cases in the course
Of the charges, but by 6 o'clock there was
30 fear Of further trouble At $50 the whole
force of Life Guards patroled the square,
and finally they dispersed completely Some
: excitement was caused at the Whitehall By
the victorious police marching with the cap
tured flags and banners. TIE mounted;
uolice and Life Guards were now ordered in
: The direction of the parliament building. the
G side streets being cordone3 with constables
;c prevent rushes. This move cleared
Whitehall and Parliament street, and the
!. guards. with the exception Of TIE body re-
aimed in Trafalgar square, were enabled Il
return to their barracks by o'clock Qui